*terkw-

"to twist or wrench out of shape," early 15c. (implied in contorted), from Latin contortus, past participle of contorquere "to whirl, twist together," from assimilated form of com- "with, together," here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-) + torquere "to twist" (from PIE root *terkw- "to twist"). Related: Contorting.

1580s, "twist the true meaning, pervert the truth regarding," from Latin distortus, past participle of distorquere "to twist different ways, distort," from dis- "completely" (see dis-) + torquere "to twist" (from PIE root *terkw- "to twist"). Literal sense of "to twist or wrest out of shape, change from the proper to an improper or unnatural shape" is from 1630s. Related: Distorted; distorting.